Shaft for golf clubs



May E2? i936., L. A. YOUNG SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS Original Filed Oct. 30, 1931 Aon bulbi. ll lll Cil Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STAT ES PAT ENT GFFECE;

572,111".V Divided; and this application February 3, 1933, SerialNo.: 654,972

4' Claims;

The subject matter of thisV case-'is-rv af division.

of my copending application Serial No. 572,111, filed October 30; 1931,. for. Shaftsifor golf' clubs and the like and method of making.

The main objects of thisy invention are:

First, to provide a metal shaft for golf clubs and the like, which may be made in diameters closely approaching wood shafts as commonly employed, and at the same time has the desired resilience.

Second, to provide a shaft for golf clubs and the like in which the shock of impact with the ball is effectively absorbed in the shaft and not transmittedto or absorbed by the user.

Third, to provide a metal shaft for golf clubs and the like, which has the desired resilience Without the objectionable whipping which is sometimes found in metal shafts.

Fourth, to provide a metal shaft for golf clubs and the like, which is well adapted to withstand the torsional stresses to which it is subjected in use.

Fifth, to provide a I shaft having these advantages, which is very economic-al to produce.

Objects pertaining to details and economies o-f my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of a Wood head golf club embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of my improved golf club shaft.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modification of my improved golf club shaft.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which the shaft of the modification is formed, no attempt, however, being made to maintain proportions.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated by the drawing, I represents a wood golf club head, 2 the shaft, and 3 the grip. These parts are shown in Fig. l considerably conventionalized.

My improved golf club shaft is formed of sheet metal tubing preferably tapered toward each end as shown in Fig. 2. The tube forming the shaft is preferably seamless. The shaft is tapered toward both ends from the point 4. The taper toward the head end 5 of the shaft is about threefourths of the length of the shaft and the taper toward the upper or grip end 6 of the shaft is about one-fourth of the length of the; shaft. rFliesev proportions.- may be considerably'varied.l Thesha-f t i's preferably of approximatelythesame: diameter at both ends.

The grip .31 comprisesfia.'ffoundation:V 'I2 andLatcoyering 8 of leather or other suitable material. The foundation is shown in the drawing as a onepiece internally tapered tube compensating for the upward taper of the grip portion of the shaft. When the grip is in position, the shaft has the l0 appearance of the usual type of golf club shaft tapered from end to end.

To facilitate the attachment of the grip, a wood tip 9 is afxed to the end of the shaft, this tip being adapted to receive the retaining screw 15 Ill for the cap I I by means of which the covering is secured to the outer end. of the grip.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modification wherein the shaft I2 is formed of a` strip-like blank I3 of sheet metal preferably tapered toward each end, as shown in Fig. 5. Owing to the opposite taper of the blank, the resulting tube is tapered toward each end. The blank is spirally twisted as shown in Fig. 4, which results in a spiral positioning of the seam and also a spiral positioning of the grain of the metal. After the tube is twisted, the overlapping parts are welded together and the tube is then properly treated for hardening and tempering. Suitable tempering methods are Well 30 understood by those skilled in the art.

With the shaft thus formed, it is tapered toward both ends from the point I4. The taper toward the head end I5 of the shaft is about threefourths of the length of the shaft and the taper 35 toward the upper or grip end I6 of the shaft is about one-fourth the length of the shaft. These proportions may be considerably varied. The shaft is preferably of approximately the same diameter at both ends. The overlapped joint parts serve as a torsion member and they are uniformly distributed about the shaft. Otherwise, the construction of the club of the modification is similar to that described above in connection with Figs. l to 3, inclusive.

With the shaft thus formed, there is a substantial yielding or resilience in the grip end of the shaft, which is very effective in absorbing the shocks of impact. This also makes it possible to make the shaft of larger diameter, thereby more closely approaching wood shafts in appearance without destroying the desired resilience. The resilience may be had without resulting in the objectionable whip quite commonly present in metal shafts. Further, the desired flexibility may be had without reducing the thickness at a point Where breakage is likely to occur, as is the case with golf shafts now quite largely used which are formed by drawing operations.

The tapering of the shaft toward each end is a desirable feature when embodied in shafts formed by drawing operations or it is practical to form'the shaft in sections, the portions 5 and 6 being separately formed and then united by a suitable joint as there is substantially no flexing at the point where the oppositely tapered portions join. Furthermore, the shaft may be spirally formed Vas disclosed in my copending application referred to above and as illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

I have not attempted to illustrate the various parts in their relative proportions such as the taper or gage of metal, and these may be considerably varied. It is believed, however, that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shaft for golf clubs and the like in the form of a metal tube of circular cross section tapered from an intermediate portion toward each end to approximately the same diameter, the taper toward the head end extending approximately three-fourths of the length of the shaft.

2. A shaft for golf clubs and the like in the form of a metal tube of circular cross section tapered from an intermediate portion toward each end to approximately the same diameter.

3. A tubular metal shaft for golf clubs and the likeV tapered toward each end and from an intermediate point, the tapered portion of the head end of the shaft being at least twice the length 0f the tapered portion of the grip end of the shaft.

4. A shaft for golf clubs and the like in the form of a metal tube tapered from an intermediate portion toward each end, the taper toward the head end of the shaft being substantially longer than the taper toward the grip end of the shaft.

LEONARD A. YOUNG. 

